The Raconteurs is an alternative rock band, formed in Detroit, Michigan, Un… Read Full Bio ↴The Raconteurs is an alternative rock band, formed in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in 2005. The band consists of Jack White (vocals, guitar), Brendan Benson (vocals, guitar), Jack Lawrence (bass) and Patrick Keeler (drums). The band considers themselves to be a "new band made up of old friends" and the members are also members of other rock groups: White was a member of The White Stripes (and, along with Lawrence, is also a member of The Dead Weather), Benson is a solo singer/songwriter and Lawrence and Keeler are members of The Greenhornes.

The band has released three albums, 2006's "Broken Boy Soldiers", 2008's Consolers of the Lonely and 2019's Help Us Stranger.

Dean Fertita from The Waxwings did live keyboards for the band in 2006; he also played in Brendan Benson's band and is now touring with Queens Of The Stone Age, and is a member of White and Lawrence's band The Dead Weather.

The band had to change their name in Australia, since there already was a band named The Raconteurs there. The band is referred to as The Saboteurs in Australia.

Hold Up
The Raconteurs Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hold up!

Had enough of these modern times
About to drive me out of my mind
And you know this too well
I'm holed up in my little cell, yeah!

Hold up!

Hold up!
Hold up!
Hold up!

Friends took me to a freak show
I thought I think I've seen it all before
Well Can I get a look at you, girl?
Maybe take a peek in your world?

Hold up!
Hold up!
Hold up!
Hold up!

Hold up

Modern girl, you're so kind
You're gonna help me get through this time, well
And you know me too well
You didn't break a bone, you broke into my prison cell

Hold up!
Hold up!
I'm holed up!

Hold up, I'm holed up

Overall Meaning

The Raconteurs' song "Hold Up" explores the frustrations of modern-day life and the need to escape from it. Jack White's vocals express a level of discontent with the fast-paced and technologically-driven lifestyle that many of us have adopted. The opening lines of "Had enough of these modern times, about to drive me out of my mind, and you know this too well, I'm holed up in my little cell," suggest that he feels trapped within the constraints of modern society.

As the song progresses, White tells the story of how his friends took him to a freak show. He thought he had seen it all before, but when he saw one particular girl, he was intrigued. He asks if he can take a peek into her world, suggesting that he wants to escape his mundane existence and experience something new and exciting.

The chorus of the song, "Hold up! Hold up! Hold up! Hold up!" adds to the urgency of White's desire to escape. He repeats the phrase multiple times to emphasize his frustration and need to break free. The final lines of the song, "You didn't break a bone, you broke into my prison cell, Hold up! Hold up! I'm holed up!" suggest that he has found a way to escape and is now free from his self-imposed confinement.

Line by Line Meaning

Hold up!
Pause for a moment!

Had enough of these modern times
I'm tired of the present state of things

About to drive me out of my mind
It's making me crazy

And you know this too well
You're aware of my feelings

I'm holed up in my little cell, yeah!
I'm hiding in my own space

Friends took me to a freak show
My buddies brought me to an unusual event

I thought I think I've seen it all before
I believed I've witnessed everything already

Well Can I get a look at you, girl?
May I take a glance at you, lady?

Maybe take a peek in your world?
Perhaps explore your thoughts and world view?

Modern girl, you're so kind
You're a thoughtful modern lady

You're gonna help me get through this time, well
You'll assist me in making it through this phase